Consultation on National Food Security Act held
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 21 2013:
A one-day State Level Consultation on National Food Security Act, 2013 was jointly organised by Sustainable Livelihood Forum, Manipur (SLF-M) and Network of Manipur Voluntary Organisation (NMVO) at Tribal Research Institute (TRI) at Chingmeirong here today.
During the consultation attended by representatives of 30 NGOs from nine districts of the State, Advocate Rakesh Meihoubam, who is also the Director of Human Rights Law Network , deliberated on the topic of ''National Food Security Act, 2013'' as a penal expert.
The main objective of organising the consultation was to bring a collective learning among the Governmental and Non-Governmental organisations as well as the community leaders on issues related to implementation of the Act, to analyse the issues and challenges likely to be faced by the State and the Community during implementation and access to PDS and TPDS benefits and to strengthen co-operation and collaboration among all stakeholders in this regard.
After a serious of deliberation on the issue, the participants unanimously adopted seven resolutions.
The first recommendation endorsed that the voice and opinion of the civil societies should be given primary consideration in respect of implementation of Right to Food Security in the State and for that the State should arrange an interface with the CSOs through which a draft State Rules on Food Security as per the Section 40 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 is developed encompassing the specific needs and challenges of the State such as conflict situation, communication bottlenecks, HIV/AIDS and the already defunct TPDS.
Secondly, the consultation resolved to condemn undue interference by local MLAs in the implementation of TPDS as it has been the biggest stumbling block which deprives the tight of the eligible beneficiaries from getting their entitlements freely and fairly.
In this regard, the consultation urged their authorities concerned of the State Government to stop involvement of MLAs and their nominees in any manner in the process of selecting the beneficiaries, appointment of FPS agents and SK oil sub-dealers, lighting and distribution of TPDS entitlements including the proposed entitlements under the National Food Security Act, 2013 .
The third recommendation mooted that a redressal mechanism be ensured before the National Food Security Act in Manipur by appointing all the District Grievance Officers and setting up the State Food Commission at the earliest.
Maintaining that the penalty for any public servant found to be guilty as laid down in the existing Act i.e., not exceeding Rs 5000 is very less and not commensurate for the offence supposedly committed by the public servant, the consultation recommended amendment of the relevant section 33 of the Act and increase the amount of the penalty by replacing the term ''not exceeding Rs 5000'' by '' not less than Rs 1,00,000" .
Furthermore, the consultation recommended that adoption of strict guidelines by the authority concerned while issuing the inclusion of criteria documents such as income certificate, residence certificate, ration cards, etc as such documents could be easily obtainable through back door and political influence.
Lastly, today's consultation too serious view on the alleged irresponsible attitude of three officials namely W Deven Singh, DSO Senapati district; RK Binoy, DSO Imphal West and I Somorendro Singh, DSO Thoubal who failed to turn up, thus, dishonouring the specific directive issued by the Chief Secretary of the State.
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